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J. ,0. POW-LER an E. A. HENKLE. PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 373,353. Patented Nov. 15, 1887.

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(No Model.) 8 Sheets- Sheet 2.

J. 0. POWLBR & E.' A.' lNIJNNIE.

' PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 373,353. Patented Nov. 15, 1887-.

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No. 373,353. Patented Nov. I5, 1337.

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PRVINIITGrl MACHINE.

lPatented NOV. 15, 1887.

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No. 373,333. l Patented Nov. 15.1337.

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(No Modem" J. d. POWLER an E. A. HENK PRINTING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 1(55, 1887.

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8 Sheets-Shelet 8. J. C. FOWLBR & E. A. HENKLE. PRINTING MACHINE (No Model.)

Patented Nov. 15, 1887.

gm' wle?? JosErH c. EoWLEn AND EDWARD A.

PATENT OEETCE.

HENKLE, OF WASHINGTON, FISTRIOT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS ATO 'THE AMERIOAN-f/PRINTING PRESS COM- PANY, OF SAME PLAGE.

PRINTING-MACHINE.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No'. 373.353, dated November 15, 1887.

l Application filed February 15, 1887. Serial No. 227,747. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that we, JosErH C. FoWLER and EDWARD A. HENKLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and .useful Improvements in Printing-lVIachines, of

which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to printing-presses, and the purpose thereof is to provide antomatic mechanism for printing from a continuons web, for reversing the sheet and carrying Cessively, whereby `the cylinder-surface shall have an exact rolling contact with the pressbeds, while the latter shall move during the i period occupied in making the impression in a horizontal plane beneath the cylinder.

Our invention also contemplates. the pro- Vision of novel inking mechanism, whereby a stated amount of ink shall be supplied to each v form, and to combinewith the printing apparatus perforating and separating devices, whereby each sheet, printed on both sides and containing four pages, shall be separated from the Web and arranged in piles composed of eight of such sheets or signatures accurately arranged in readiness for the operation of the stitching and folding apparatus.

In combination with the separating mechanism we provide devices whereby the suc-- cessive piles of eight signatures each are conveyed beneath the stitching-needle, their removal from the table being accomplished with- `out interruption to the action of the other parts of the apparatus, and with the sewingmachine we combine novel creasing and folding devices, all of which will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Our invention contemplates, in short, automatic mechanism for printing froma continuons web upon one side, reversing the sheet and printing upon the otherl side, separating the sheets, assembling them in piles of eight sheets, and stitching and folding, the impres- ,sions being eected with such accuracy and the register being so perfect that the press is adapted to bookprinting as well as to other kinds.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of 6o the section plane being a continuation of that in Fig. 1, and the two figures taken together being a section of the entire machine. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the delivery end of the machine; and FigjZfb is a. side elevation of the feed end, the two iigures taken together being an elevation of the complete machine, taken from the farther Vside of Figs. 1 and lf. Fig. 3 is a plan view of that end of the machine shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a plan ot' the other end, the two figures taken together being a plan of the entire machine. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the end of the machine shown in Fig. 3, the offset-web and scparatingrolls being removed to shonr the table. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of Fig. 4 on the line x x. Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section of Fig. l in aplane passing through the axis of the driving-cylinder. Fig. 7 is a detail plan View of one ofthe press-beds, showing the construction and the manner of imposition. Fig. 8 is a detail of the webreversing rolls,k with the web inrdotted lines. Fig. 9 is a plan -of a portion of the -printed web, showing by dotted lines the lines of perforation and ultimate separation and the paging. the web as it appears while undergoing sepa- Fig. l() is a detail perspective of ration and collation, the separated sheets or signatures being shown piled together. Fig. 11 is a perspective of the printed, separated, and stitched sheets, one section being shown passing between the creasing-rolls, while the next or succeeding section is passing through or between the folding-wings, the latter not being shown in this figure.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the frame of the machine, upon which the operative parts are supported. Mounted in adjustable journal-boxes 2, sliding in slotted supports 3, is a shaft, et, carrying an impression-cylinder, 5. This cylinder is of any usual construction so far as regards its contact-surface, and is provided with the ordinary reels, (i, for attaching the blankets and tympan-sheet 7. Upon or near each end of the cylinder is formed or mounted a rack, 8, with one of which is meshed a motor-gear, 9, carried by a shaft, 10, upon one end of which is mounted a pulley, 11, which may be belted to any suitable source ot' power.

Beneath the impression cylinder, on or within the frame 1, on each side, is formed an elliptical race oi orbit, 12, and mounted centrally within said race is a cylinder, 13, having its axis in the same vertical plane with the shaft of the impression cylinder. In the body ofthe cylinder 13, and arranged as hereinafter described, are formed diametrical bores 14,whieh receive pistourods 15, tting within said bores and capable of moving longitudinally therein.

Moving in the race 12 are the press-beds 16, each composed of an oblong, rectangular, metal plate, upon which is mounted the twin chase 17, having a central dividing-rib, 18. Upon each end of the bed are studs 19, upon which are place d friction-rolls 20. These rolls travel in the race 12, by which the beds are supported at both ends and carried succesY sively beneath the im pression-cylinder. Upon the uuderl'ace ot each bed are formed ears or lugs 21, arranged at about equal distances from the ends. Pivoted to these lugs are the outer ends of the piston-bars 15, and as the p ross-beds are carried beneath the impressioncylinder and around in the race 12 said pistons will draw out of and pass into the bores 14 in the cylinder 13. Rotation is communicated to the cylinder 13 by means of these rods in the manner presently to be described, and, on the other hand, those press-beds which have passed from beneath the impression-cylinder, as well as those which are approaching it, are carried around in the race 12 by means of said rods 15, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen that the press-beds upon opposite sides of the line passing through the V4contact-point of the impression-cylinder will rack 8 upon the corresponding end ofthe impression cylinder. As the cylinder 13 revolves and brings these racks upon one bed in mesh with the racks on the cylinder, the pressbed immediately following will, as it enters the horizontal portion of the race 12, gain upon the bed passing beneath the cylinder uutil, as the racks 22 upon the press-bed are passing out of mesh with the racks 8 on the impression-eylinder, the following prcssbed 16 comes into contact practically with the preceding bed..1nd the racks 22 on the. former become practically continuous ot' the similar racks on the latter, whereby theteeth of the racks ou the impression-cylinder take into the racks-of the following bed without the loss of a single intervening tooth. In like manner, aS the racks 22 pass out of mesh with the racks 8 of the impressioncyliuder, the press-bed carrying them begins to gain in speed ot' movement in the race 12, so that when the bed receiving impression is central beneath the cylinder the preceding and the following beds 16 are separated from it by an interval approximately measured by the space shown in Fig. 1. As the bed preceding that which receives the impressions travels farther in the raee12, this interval of separation increases until the center ofthe bed reaches the longer diameter of the elliptical race, from which point its speed decreases until the center ot' said bed reaches the vertical line passing through the axes ofthe cylinder 13 and ofthe impressioncylinder. At this point, as well as at thepoint immediately above, the beds move at their slowest speed, while upon each side of said points, above and below, the beds have respectively a constantly-increasng and a constantly-decreasing rate of speed. It will be seen, therefore, that as the rear edge of one press-bed reaches the central line, at which point the impression-cylinder is tangent to its type-surface` the forward edge of the following bed has so far gained upon it that the two separate racks 22 forni a continuous rack practically, the teeth of said racks being so formed that there is at each end a halt' interval, 22, into which one ofthe teeth on each of the racks 8 passes. The arrangement-ofthe piston-bars 15 is substantially shown in Fig. 6. rlhe radial openings 14, being` formed in the cylinder 13 at angles ot' forty-five degrees witheach other, as in Fig. 1, the bars carrying one press-bed are placed in the bores adjacent tothe ends of the cylinder. Those carrying the bed on the opposite side of the cylinder lie in the bores formed parallel with and a little nearer to the center than those just mentioned, and so on throughout the series. In all cases. however, the bars of each pair are arranged at equal distances from the ends of the roll to prevent any side-thrust upon the cylinder 13.

The forms used in this press are made up in the manner shown in Fig. 7, which is known as quiring imposition. They are locked in the twin chase of the press-bed by any suitable kind of quoin, care only being taken that the shaft of this roller is mounted a ratchet, 26,

-roller 25.

described. The ink is taken from a fount, 24.'

ofany suitable construct ion, placed, preferably, beneath that portion of the frame in which the race 12 is arranged. As shown, this fountis composedv of a box, in which is journaled a fount-roller,25,whichliespartlyintheink. On

and on the end of the said shaft, outside the ratchet, is pivoted a leyer,27,earrying apawl, 28, which is thrown int-o engagement with the ratchet 26. The other end of the lever 27 is connected to apitman, 29, carried by a crank, 30, on thejournal ofthe cylinder 13. At each revolution of the crank the end of the lever is vibrated, retracting the pawl 28, to engage it with a different tooth, and then raising the pawl to give partial revolution to the ink A scraper, 31, adjustable toward and from the roll, removes the surplus ink and equalizes that which adheres to rollersurface. Journaled in suitable supportingplates, 32, are two distributing-rolls, 33, having their surfaces separated by a suitable interval, hut both having contact with a vibrating roll, 34, which has constant revolution, and also a longitudinal reeip'rocation simultaneous with its rotation, these movements being produced by anyknown combination of devices. Ink is supplied from'the fount roller 25 to the vibrating roll. 34 by a ductorroll, 35, journaled in ai'rame, 36,which is pivotally mounted on the machine-frame, as shown in Fig. 2, said frame having a cam-arm, 37, resting upon a cam, 38, carried by a journal of the cylinder 13. A spring,39, draws this lever toward the cam and gives vibration to the frame in one direction, while the cam moves it in another. The cam 38A and the crank 30 are so timed relatively to each other that the ductor35 will be thrown against the fount roll I 25 at the moment the latter receives partial revolution by the vibration of the lever 27. The ductor is revolved by contact withl the -inking-roller and receives a supply of ink,

after which the cam 38 actuates the lever 37 and throws the'ductor against the Vibrating roll 34, by which the ink is evenly and smoothly supplied to both the rollers 33.

Pivotally mounted upon the projectingjournals 33a of the rolls 33 are radial arms 40, two of such arms being placed at each end ofeach The ends of these journals of the form-rollers 42, the peripheries of which rest upon the surfaces of the rollers 33, the force with which they bear upon the said rolls being varied in any suitable manner. BetweenA the pivotal bearing for said arms and their slotted extremities are formed arcshaped slots 43, concentric with the axes of the roll-shafts, upon which the arms 40 are mounted. These slots are cut in the plate '32, which affords support to the vibrator and distribnter-rolls. Screws 44 pass through apertures in the arms 40 and through the slots 43, binding-nuts being turned upon theends of said screws, so as to bear against the inner face ot' the plate 32 and lock the arms 40 in. positior1 at any point in said slots. It will be seen that by .causing the ends ot' said arms to approach the vertical line drawn through the axis of the journal 33a the form-rollers 42, carried by Said arms, will be raised, while by an opposite adjustment their peripheries will be brought into avlower horizontal plane.

The supportingplates 32 are so arranged that the form-rollers 42, when 'at about the medium point of adjustment, will have their peripheries brought into or nearly into the same horizontal plane with the type-surfaces of the forms as they pass beneath the cylinder 13 in the race 12, as shown in Fig. 1. The set7 ofthe form-rollers,or the degree offoree with which they impinge upon the type, may

vbe very easily, accurately, and delicatclyadj usted by the means described.

, The fount-roll is of metal, preferably steel, while the ductor is of composition, as also may be the vibratorybut we may use wood, metal, or other suitable material for the distribnterrolls. The form-rollers are of composition.

The paper used upon this press is taken in a continuous web from a roll, 45, having its axis supported in standards 46 at `the feed end of the machine. The web is ofthe width required forprinting two of the pages imposed in the forms described, and it is carried under the impression-cylinder upon one side or half thereof to print pages 2 and 31 from the forms upon the corresponding end of the press-bed.

`It is then carried Iover a roll, 47, arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 1t, and 3, which has contact with the unprinted surface. Leaving this roll, the web is carried at right angles to its former line of travel or directly across the press, passing under, and then partly around a second roll, 48, arranged at such an angle with the roll 47 that the direction of travel of the web is again changed by a right angle, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. By thepeculiar arrangement ot these rolls theweb is taken as it comes from the impression-cylinder after being printed upon one side and is carried back and over and beneath said cylinder to form the perfected page. As the second roll, 48, is in contactv with the printed face of the sheet, which may not be so perfectly dried as to prevent blurring, we form the roll 48 as follows: The printed surface having marginal spaces'and a central space correspondinfr to the coffin-space or gutter of the form, we form the roll 48 with a spiral chaunel,`49, passing twice around the roll at a pitch equal to the angle which the paper makes with the rollaxis. The channels 49 are of a little greater width than the width of the printed pages, and a central spiral rib, 50, is lel't ron the roll, which gives support to the web at itscenter, enabling it to travel over the roll with- Ico IIO

end ofthe same bed, the latter having in the y meantime made a complete circuit of the race or orbit 12. rlhe same press-bed, therefore, carries forms which print pages 1 and 32 and pages 2 and-3l, the latter being upon thereverse side and forming the perfected sheet.4

In order to secure perfect accuracy of feed, movement, or travel, we may, it' desired, use any suitable form of guide at any point over which the web passes.

In order to prevent offset upon the tympansheet, we provide an offset web or blanket, 5l, which passes around the cylinder and over a roll, 52, mounted at a convenient distance upon standards 53. This blanket runs only on that half of the impression-cylinder over and under which the web passes to print the perfected page. As the sheet comes from the press the second time it passes to a. pair of perforating-rolls, 5i, driven by the motor gear 9, and by these rolls, which are of the ordinary construction, the web is perforated from side to sidebetweeu thesuccessivc perfected sheets. At the moment after this operation is complete the end of the sheet, which passes over and is guided and supported by an inclined table, 54, is seized by a pair of separatingrolls, 55, which liejust beyond the lower edge of the table 54". These rolls revolve at a speed somewhat greater than the rate at which the web is driven by the perforating-rolls, the consequence being that the perforated sheet is separated along the line of perforation between the two sets of rolls 54 and 55. Theseparated portion is carried through the separating-rolls and dropped upon a table, 55, being thrown against a gate, 56, by which their edges are brought into line.

Beneath the table 55*l are placed rolls 57, having sprocket-teeth 58, and over said rolls .is carried an apron or wide belt, 59, which lnoves parallel with and just beneath the under surface of the table. Upon this apron, at fixed intervals, are mounted fingers 60, which project above the top of the table 55, slots G1 being provided in the latter in which said iingers move. rl`he interval separating these lingers upon the apron and the speed at which the latter moves are so adjusted that after eight sheets, containing thirty-two pages, have been laidA Vupon the table 55 a pair of these Yfingers enters the slots 6l and impinges 4upon the edges ot' the sheets lying upon the l rises in guideways 63, the cam-plates 62 having inclinededges upon which the gate rides up. As the latter is raised far enough the iingers 60 engage with the separated sheets, as already described, and push the entire pile forward on the table. their ends passing under the raised gate 56, which is then dropped by i the cams (52 and rests upon the moving pile of sheets. In order to prevent slurring after the gate falls, the edges of the latter are slightly cut away, as shown at 56 in Fig. 5. These portions are removed over the printed portions only, and in printing pages of varied width the gate may be replaced by another cut-away to correspond with the width of the form. During the timeoccupied by thc passage of the sheets beneath the gate the perforation of the web and the separation of the successive sheets are still going on, each sheet being delivered by the separating-rolls upon the top of the moving pile carried by the fingers 60, but prevented from passing the gate by the fact that portions of the latter rest upon the surface of the piled sheets in motion.

Stitching apparatus of any known and suitable kind is arranged upon the delivery sideof the gate 56, the needle-bar 64c being arranged centrally of the piled sheet-s, and being driven in any suitable manner to form a continuous line of stitching, and between the successive sections to form the looped machine-stitches to connect the several sections together. A presser-foot having the usual roll is employed with the needle; but these parts being of the well-known construction they have not been shown. After the stitching of the section is completed it is to be folded centrally along the line ofstitehing. For this purpose we provide, first, a folding roll acting in conjunction with folding wings, and afterward subject the folded and partly-folded section to the action ofa pair of creasing-rolls, by which the operation is completed.

Upon each side of the table 55", beyond the gate 5G, are placed the folding-wings 65, which consist of plates of wood or metal, the edges 0f which rise and converge at an easy angle toward the delivery end ofthe machine. These wings raise the outer edges of the piled sheets or sections as they pass beneath the feedingroll, beginning with the forward corners, as shown in Fig. l, and bring them intoa folded position, or approximately so, after which the folded edge is seized by a pair of rolls, 66, mounted upon Vertical axes and arrangedjust beyond the creasing-roll. By these foldingrolls the crease is formed perfectly and the section is completed, as shown in Fig. ll. The leaves ofeach section,77 after passing beneath the gate 5G, are perforated by theinitial stitch of the sewing mechanism before the gate is dropped, so that all buckling or winkling of the top sheet is prevented. The free passage of the fingers 60 is permitted by the cut-away portions 56, as shown in Fig. 5.

The feeding-rol167 consists of a disk turning on'a horizontal axis having a milled or I OO apron 59.

rubber edge, 68, which runs over the central line ofthe page, afriction-roll, 69, being placed beneath to give easy passage to the'moving section.

The perforatingrolls 54 are driven from the motor-gear 9, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper roll having a pinion, 70, meshing with said gear. This pinion also meshes with a gear, 7l, by which motion is transmitted to the separating-rolls 55 through a pinion, 72, on the shaftof the upper of said rolls. On the other end of said shaft is a gear, 73, meshing with a gear, 74. on one of the rolls 57, carrying the Upon the shaft of the other ofsaid rolls 57, and on the other side ofthe machine,

Ais mounted a gear, 75, which meshes with a gear, 76, by which a sprocket, 77,' is driven, communicating motion to the shaft 78 of a sprocket, 79, which drives the feeding -roll. The same shaft 78 also drives a miter-gear, 80, (see Fig. 12",) which meshes with a similar miter, 8l, on the shaft of one of the creasingrolls. These rolls are geared together by pinions 82, one of which is shown in Fig. la.

We may apply tension to the web by a-friction-roll, 88, resting by gravity on the webroll, and a second roll, 8J., may be mounted on standards 85 and brought to bear against the web as it meets the impression-cylinder.

The vibrating roll 34 may be adjusted vertically in slots Bt by means of the ordinary set-screw, 86, bearing against the journal-box 87 and tapped into the supporting-frame.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 3f it will be seen that the delivery end of the machineframe isl narrowed down to accommodate the width of4 the single web as it comes the second time from the impression-cylinder.

The devices employed for inking the forms of this press may be applied to other forms of printing mechanism without essential change.

1. The combination, with a continuouslyrotating impression-cylinder and a gear meshing with and imparting motion thereto, of a series of press-beds passing successively beneath the same, an elliptic race or orbit in which said beds arc guided, a cylinder having diametrical bores or apertures and journaled within said orbit, and pistons having` longitudinal movement in said apertures and pivotally connected to the press-beds, the beds and cylinder being provided with gear-teeth, which are in mesh during the impression on each bed, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a continuouslyrotating impression-cylinder'having a rack of gear-teeth at or near each end, of a series of press-beds passing beneath said cylinder, each having racks meshing with those on the cylinder, an elliptic race or orbit in which said beds move, a cylinder j ournaled centrally within said orbit, and having diametrical bores or apertures, pistons pivotally connected to the press-beds and moving longitudinally in said apertures, and meanfor giving a positive rotation lto said cylinder, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a printing mechanism4 for printing on a continuous web, of a perforating-roll under which the printed sheet is fed, a pair of separating-rolls running at a surface speed greater than the feed of the sheet, and a section-feed, whereby the separated sheets are removed in equal piles or sections, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a printing mechanism for printing on a continuous web, of a perforating-roll beneath which the printed sheet is fed, apair of separating-rolls running at a surface speed greater than thc feed of the sheet, asection-feed removing the separated sheets in equal piles or sections. and a stitching apparatus to Which the sections are fed by the section-feed, substantially as described.

\ 5. The combination, with a printing mechanism for printing on a continuous web, of a perforating-roll beneath which the printed sheet is fed, a pair of separating-rolls running at a surface speed greater than the feedof the sheet, a section-feed removing the separated sheets in equal piles or sections, a stitching device operating on the sections as they are moved by the section-feed, a feed-roll to which the sections pass from the stitches, a pair of folding-Wings which bring the leaves together as the section passes beneath the feed-roll, and a pair of creasing-rolls between which the 'folded edge of the section passes, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a constantly-revolving impression cylinder having gearteeth on or near each end, of a series of pressbeds, each having a rack at each end meshing` with the rack on the cylinder during the period ofimpression, an elliptical race or orbit in which the press-beds move, said race having a horizontal portion beneath the impression-cylinder, a cylinder journaledcentrally in said orbit, and having diametrical bores and pistons pivotally connected to the pressbeds and moving in the said bores, the impression-cylinder being journaled in the ceutral vertical plane passing through the orbit, and the racks on the press-beds being of such length that at the tangent point of said cylinder theyv will form practically continuous racks, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a press-bed, of inking mechanism consisting of a vibrating roll, two distributing-rollshaving contact with said vibrating roll, and form-rollers riding upon the surface of each distributing-roll and adapted to receive adjustment toward and from each other, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with distributing-rolls, of form-rollers riding upon the surface of said distributing rolls, arms pivotally mounted upon the axes of said rolls and supporting the journals of the form-rollers, and means for adj usting said arms to separate the form-rollers or cause them to approach each other on the IOO periperies of the distributing-rollers, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with one or more inkdistributing-rolls and a press-bed, of formrollers rolling upon the peripherics of the distributingrolls, arms pivotally mounted upon the journals of the distributing-rolls and supporting the journals of the form-rollers, arc-shaped slots in the fraaie supporting the distributing rolls, and setscrews passing through said slots and through the pivoted rollerarms, whereby the latter may be adjusted and fastened at any desired angle with each other, substantially as described.

10. The combination, willi an ink-fonnt, of a roll jonrnaled to turn therein, a ratchet on thc shaft of said roll, a lever fulcrumed on said shaft, and having on its end apawl engaging the ratchet, a pitman connected to the other end of the lever, a duetor-roll journaled in a vibrating frame, a vibrating roll in engagement with one or more distributing-rolls, and a cam on the press-shaft, whereby the dnctor is thrown from the vibrating roll against the fount-roll at the moment the latter is rotated by the pawl-carrying lever, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the impression cylinder and a series of pressbcds moving he! neath it, each bed carrying a twin chase, of reversing-rolls arranged in the feed-lines from both ends of the impression-cylinder, one of said rolls being plain surfaced and the other ent away between a central portion and each end, whereby the continuous web is printed on one side and reversed to be carried under the other end of the cylinder and printed on the other side, the margins and central space of each sheet being supported in the cent-er and ends ofthe second reversing-roll, substantially as described.

l2. The combination, with aprinting mechanism for printing on a continuous web, ofpen forating-rolls operating between the perfected sheets, separating-rolls ruiming at greater speed, a slotted table which receives the separated sheets or signatures, a vertically-movable gate against which said sheets are piled, and an endless apron carrying cam plates which raise said gate and fingers which move in the slots of the table and carry the piled sheets under the raised gate, .substantially as described.

13. The combination, with a printing-press for printing upon a continuous web, and with automatic mechanism for separating the printed sheets, piling them in sections, and feeding the successive sections forward, of stitching mechanism having continuous action, whereby the successive sections are stitched and connected together, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the printing,sepa rating, feeding, and stitching mechanism, substantially as described, of foldingwings which rise and converge from the stitching-needle toward a feeding-roll arranged centrally within the month of the folding-wings, and a pair ot' creasingrolls turning on vertical axes which receive the folded edge of each section and complete the fold, substantially as described.

15. The combination, with a race or orbit of substantially oblate form, and having its longer diameter in a horizontal plane, of a cylinder journaled centrally within said orbit and having diametrieal bores or apertures, a series ofpistons moving longitudinally in said bores, pressbeds pivotally connected to said pistons, and having supports moving in the race or orbit, and an impressioncylinder having its axis in the same vertical plane with the shorter diameteroftheorbit,said cylinderhavinggearteeth meshing with racks on the press-beds, whereby each press-bed as it approaches the cylinder will gain upon the preceding bed and become practically continuous therewith at the point where both are tangent to the cylin- 

